Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-30

ARE INFORMED THAT IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE DE-
PLErED WATER FUND THE COMMISSIONERS WILL
NOT RECOMMEND TO CONGRESS THE MAKING OF AN
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FILTER PLANT.
In a letter addressed to J. W. Thompson and
others the District Commissioners say they "are
fully in accord with the view that the securing OF
an entirely wholesome and acceptable drinking
water, free from turbidty and sediment, and with
out deleterious components, would be great bene-
Mt to the community and that all needful steps In
that direction should be carefully considered and
the best means OF amendment be taken at the ear
lest practicable time.
The water supply of the District, literally
planned and elaborately constructed as IL has
been, undoubtedly exhibits certain defects and
among these, though happily less serious In char
acter and degree than In the water supplies OF
most cities, is the presence in the Potomec water
OF varying amount Of turbidity which at times
is sufficiently marked to impair the appearance
and aftractiveness OF the water, and at Others is
entirely absent
The causes OF this are, OF course, well UNDER
stood, following the downfall OF heavy rains the
river receives from the abrasion OF its main and
mentary and dissolved material, portion OF which
enters the aqueduct at Great Falls is conveyed TO
the receiving or distributing reservoir and thence
through the supply mains to distributing and SER
During its comparatively slow passage through
tne aaueduct, and In particular during the period
large portion OF its sedimentary burden, the
heavier materials are deposited, and only matters
In solution and the lighter suspended particles
reach the consumers.
Both vital statistics and chemical analysis prove
that on the whole the water supply OF the Dis
trict in point OF wholesomeness and freedom from
deleterious matters ranks high among the best.
The reasons are obvious. The Potomac River is a
powerful stream OF large volume, traversing a val
lent current flowing swiftly over a rocky bed is
broken by frequent falls and rapids and subjected
throughout Its course to natural process OF aera-
tion and partial purifcation. The general physical
conditions OF the stream and the absence OF HARM
fu artificial conditions such as large manufactor-
les and centers Of population, are therefore, favor
able to the whOleSOmeneSS OF the water but it
must be admitted, nevertheless, that the some-
what frequent and occasionally prolonged condi-
tion OF turbid,ty due as this may be TO the pres
ence OF comparatively innocuous components is
highly undesirable both as rendering domestic
filtration needful to restore the clearness and
brilliancy OF the water, and in especial encour
aging recourse to the use Of well water drawn
from strata underlying the city, whose trans
parency and sparkle In too many cases mask from
the unwary their true character as the bearers OF
disease germs.
The establishment Of a suitable fltering plant
Tor the treatment OF the general supply may,
therefore, be regarded as highly desirable object,
but unfortunately at the present time other con-
slderations OF still greater urgency demand prior
attention.
The domestic supply in many portions of the
city is notOrfOusly Inadequate, causing great in
convenience, and impairing the comfort and health
OI tue community. In considerable areas THIS de-
1ciency is due to the absence OF supply and SER
vice-maInS OF adequate capacity. The furnishing
OF these and the delivering OF an ample supply TO
premises now either destitute or scantiy served,
involve large expenditures, which, under the law,
must be borne by the revenues OF the water ofice,
already heavily depleted by payments to interest
and sinking-fuDd accounts For example the an
ticipated revenues for the ensuing fiscal year
1885 80 amount to say s270OOO. For the payment
of interest and sinking fund on outstanding water
stock bonds there will De required 50 61O and Tor
interest and sinking fund on account OF the con-
struction OF the new reservoir and aquedvct ex-
tension the further sum OF sS6962.35. The sum
OF these payments is S131 1924. nearly half the
total water revenues, leaving only about an equal
amount to meet all the practical expenses Of the
water service and effect needed improvements 1t
s safe to say that the entire amount could be ad-
vantageously expended in the laying OF needed
supply and service mains alone.
1t Is evident therefor that unless some other
provision be made for the payment OF the general
interest and sinktng-fund charges, or the water
ates be considerably increased, II will be imprac-
tcabe to undertake for the present any additional
projects OF magnitude. The lowest estimate that
has been made Of the cost OF q nltering plant is
5000, 900, and the annual cost OF its maintenance
and operation S1S00 II the original cost be d.
vided between the United States and the District
as in the case OF the reservoir and aQueduct ex-
tension the interest and sinking account will
be for the first year, SCI 900 and adding cost of
maintenance, the total Will be S39, 600.
The Commissioners cannot therefor recommend
to Congress at this time the making OF an approp-
Ration for the purpose named"